Hi everyone, I'm just looking for some advice on what my options are please. I entered into a building contract with a builder under the understanding that my house would be built on a raft slab, but since signing I have been told they made a mistake and the engineering was actually done on a wafflepod slab. My contract states slab as per engineering, however at the time I signed it I had been told in an email that the engineering required a raft slab, and given the costs associated with that. The energy report was completed (by an assessor organised by the builder) on the basis of a raft slab. I had also requested a raft slab in the quoting process. Whilst looking at some documents for the permits application, I noticed a reference to a 400mm waffle pod slab, which obviously rasied some questions. On speaking to my builder, so far they have basically said oops we made an error, the number we gave you was for a wafflepod slab so it will probably cost you more to go to a raft slab.
Do I have any recourse here? It seems very unfair to me that I have signed the contracts being told that was the costs for a raft slab and now they are saying otherwise. A brief chat to Consumer Affairs today suggested that the builder is bound under the Domestic Building Contracts Act (1995) to take due care when determining the foundations and cost associated with them, and the builder is at fault, but I am not sure how to approach this. Any suggestions would be very gratefully appreciated. I'm happy to give details from my soil report, or anything else that will help.

Hi JaLBTBTW more info is required, site/geotech report, house size, type, etc,etcYet another reason to check the engineering before you sign the contract.You will need to break down the two options and compare the pros, cons & cost difference.armed with the data/facts then try to negotiate with the builder or you pull out of the contractand ask for a refund.Goodluck

Thanks BIM.Stupidly I thought when they emailed me saying engineering says your slab will be a raft slab, that meant I would be getting a raft slab... Silly assumption I know. The house is brick veneer, single story, colourbond roof, 20.7sq under the roof, and more or less a 20x10m rectangle, bit wider at the front for the garage. The soil report showed 100mm to 200mm of Brown Silty SAND FILL overlying 700mm to 800mm of Orange/Grey/Brown Silty CLAY CONTROLLED FILL overlying Orange/Brown Silty CLAY; as per attached. I guess the main thing I'm wondering is the likelihood of the builder acknowledging it was their error and therefore fixing it. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ShareLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ShareLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ShareLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Share

From the information you posted, you are entitled to expect raft slab and builder cannot change to waffle without your consent.(I would not allow it)Builder has no leg to stand on and is bluffing. It is very important that you stand your ground because if you blink now you will be tested again perhaps more than once however you may need a good building consultant to assist you with this matter. If you already have independent building inspector to monitor critical stages of your build now would be the time to involve him.

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Hi JaLBTSorry I've been awayYou will need to get the builder to firm up the price and then (you) compare, cost, pros & Cons for the waffle & Pier against the raft slab, beam & pier.BTW it's not a big slab I would go Raft Slab,Beam,etc,etcthe builder has given you their cheapest option or have they?How far down is the water table, ground slope?more info

Cheers BIM, no worries.I stuck to my guns and basically went down the your screw up you fix it route (somewhat politer than that though...) and builder did eventually agree to rectify the issue and build a raft slab as per the signed contract, at the contract price. It's currently at the engineers being redone.Re the water table, I know it wasn't reached with the boreholes, and the land slope is minor, off top of my head under 300mm over the 12.5m frontage and not much down the length if that makes sense.

But it is easy to pick holes in a report when the author has no right of reply . SturctalBIMGuy is right, we should offer solutions and help on these blogs not just pick holes through other peoples work.It was just that the report posted here was so full of holes its hard to let it go through to the keeper.

If your not happy with your report it's probably better to get a second opinion from another soil testing company who will visit your site, sample the soil and give considered report which I cannot.My opinion won't replace a full soil investigation from another company of course.

Hi everyone,I'm sorry to have disappeared without answers, tapatalk kindly was hiding all your replies until it decided to play nicely.I had actually wondered about a few of the things you mentioned in the soil report insider, especially the things like the removal of trees inconsistencies. To be perfectly honest though I have reached a point where I am running out of fight, and as I know the slab is going to the engineer I am hoping they can read through the mistakes to where it makes sense and design appropriately, or talk to the soil tester to get it cleared up. That sounds really terrible on my behalf as I write it out but I really am done with all of this. The land titled over a year ago and I still don't have a slab let alone a house and I've had enough.BIM, I'll send you a PM with the site costs I was given. Regarding progress, I've been told the engineer has done everything and we are good to go, just waiting on QBE who are taking longer than usual (just like literally every other thing on this damn build) to do the insurance so we can actually begin. As an aside, does an "updated P and L" mean anything to anyone?Cheers all, I really appreciate everyone's help and insight.

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